So I will be applying to both, but I'm trying to decide between the Ministry language assistant program, and the University of Alcala--Instituto Franklin Teach and Learn in Spain program.

This program is a masters degree in either Bilingual and Multicultural Education, International Education, or Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. Everyone gets in on a scholarship, so there is no tuition. However, there is a 1000 Euro deposit (which graduates will get back at the end of the program.)

Candidates serve as language assistants in Madrid schools and are paid, though the amount is less per hour than the Ministry program.

There is very little information online (from blogs, etc) besides what is on the Instituto Franklin website, while there seems to be tons of info on the Auxiliares program. I was wondering if anyone has any insider info on this program that might help me decide. Or if you have met someone who was in the program, what did they think about it?

I haven't done the programme but if you go on Facebook and search for the auxiliaries de conversacion in Madrid. If you join you can search on there for posts about the masters. There are plenty of old posts about it. Hope that helps

I am currently enrolled in the Master in Teaching program. There is not a lot of information and it is important to understand:

1. Instituto Franklin at the University of Alcalá is deceptive and misleading. 2. They disguise their Master's Programs which have no official accreditation. 3. They mislead students that using Foreign Credential Evaluation Service leads to accreditation of their degree.

As educators and researchers of Bilingual Education and American Studies since 1987, it is absolutely shameful.

As continual administrators for foreign student programs, they jeopardize academic and professional careers of their students.

As of 2016-2017, at the master's level, only the Master's in American Studies is officially accredited.

All “Teach and Learn” Programs have no official accreditor:

1. Master in Teaching (No Official Accreditor)2. Master in International Education (No Official Accreditor)3. Master in Bilingual and Multicultural Education (No Official Accreditor)4. Master in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (No Official Accreditor)

These 4 programs are called “university accredited,” which is part of the deception. The University of Alcalá might be officially accredited. But universities are NOT official accreditors.

The official accreditor IS the Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación (ANECA) in conjunction with the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport (MECD).

These 4 Instituto Franklin programs are NOT officially accredited. That is what “university accredited” means.

“University accredited” is misleading jargon that allows them to hijack the word “accredited.” There is no official credit in such programs.

The university can approve the existence of the course. True. This is stating the obvious function of a university. Essentially, “universities administer courses.” Yes they do.

“University accredited” is a front for false conveyance of equivalency.

It permits misdirection and omission of the clear and consequential differences of two distinct (and unequal) types of master's degrees in Spain.

The official master's degree have advantages in and, in some cases, the only access to:

In Spain, the definition of an Official Master's has been in effect since 1999 after Spain signed the Bologna Declaration. To be official, you must be evaluated and then accredited by ANECA (Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación).

Instituto Franklin and the University of Alcalá are fully aware of the difference between an Official Master´s (Másters Oficial, Másters Universitario) in Spain and the non-official master's(título propio, Másters Propio, Másters título propio).

As educators and researchers of Bilingual Education and American Studies since 1987, continual administrators of foreign student programs, and former exchange students themselves, they are aware that prospective students are likely not familiar with legal language, legal language in Spanish, and cultural distinctions of consequence.

Rather than informing students, they are profiting from omission. In this case, omission is exploitation.

In English, their materials never mention the word “Propio,” everything is a “Masters” or “MA” which is likely by design because:

1. Lack of official accreditation looks bad2. Given entry to both, students would choose something official over something non-official3. They can charge the same tuition (or more) than an official program

It is likely they do not pursue official accreditation because:

1. They would have to do more work earn official accreditation2. They would have to do more work to maintain official accreditation3. It would cost them more to be officially accredited4. It would be harder to admit foreign students5. They would have to hire more qualified teachers6. They may have to hire more staff/teachers7. They may not be able to get official accreditation for programs8. Students would have to be officially evaluated, which could affect graduation rates9. They may lose access to the “Auxiliares de Conversación ” student population

On top of all this, Instituto Franklin documents a path to foreign accreditation AFTER completion of the program. This is is not only misleading but it is also false.

They instruct students to take completed transcripts to a Foreign Credential Evaluation Service for “accreditation.”

This is misleading and false because Foreign Credential Evaluation Services are not official accreditors. Foreign Credential Evaluation Services provide a range of recommendations for official institutions, but are not official accreditors themselves.

Directing students to this false outcome is enough sustain a student's faith to complete the entire course, pay non-refundable tuition, and attempt to use a non-officially accredited degree without ever knowing that the degree was NEVER officially accredited, and therefore CANNOT be officially accredited by the prescribed methods.

At this time, the legal implications are unclear. The ethical implications are not. Current practices of Instituto Franklin at the University of Alcalá are misleading and deceiving.

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